Day 2 of the trial between Elon Musk and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman concluded with Musk continuing his testimony. Musk, questioned by his lawyer Steven Molo, discussed his understanding of OpenAI’s structure and relationships with its executives. OpenAI’s attorney, William Savitt, also started cross-examining Musk but did not finish, leading to Musk’s return to the stand on Thursday.
Musk mentioned that OpenAI underwent changes after his departure in early 2018, but he remained engaged through donations and updates. He acknowledged Altman’s efforts to establish a for-profit division and secure funding from Microsoft, which he initially viewed as not concerning due to investor profit limitations.
However, Musk expressed unease in early 2023 when Microsoft’s $10 billion investment followed ChatGPT’s popularity surge. This led Musk to question Altman’s motives, describing the transformation of the nonprofit into a $20 billion company as deceptive.
Following the investment, OpenAI offered Musk equity, which he declined, labeling it as a “bribe.”
During cross-examination, Savitt challenged Musk’s statements, highlighting a discrepancy in the amount he claimed to have donated. The exchange turned tense as Musk criticized the lawyer for posing tricky questions and emphasized the complexity of yes-or-no inquiries.
Savitt presented emails from 2017 discussing the creation of OpenAI’s for-profit arm, revealing details about Musk’s financial contributions and interactions with OpenAI employees. Musk defended his actions, stating that restricting employment would have been illegal and emphasizing the importance of maintaining a hands-off approach.
The trial, which commenced with jury selection on Monday, could have significant implications for OpenAI’s operations, funding, and partnership with Microsoft. Musk’s lawsuit accuses Altman and Brockman of deviating from OpenAI’s original nonprofit mission, setting the stage for a pivotal legal showdown.